David Walters and friends exhibition

This year’s annual ‘David Walters & Friends’ exhibition at the William Humphreys Art Gallery (WHAG) is called In Conversation with Gabisile Nkosi.

Every year, David Walters, from Franschhoek, invites some of his potter friends for an exhibition at William Humphreys Art Gallery (WHAG). In 2008, we displayed the Series exhibition in the Blue Boy wing at WHAG, but did not remove the paintings on display. We were surprised at how well the ceramics and paintings ‘spoke’ to each other. Inspired by this happy accident, we chose the late Gabisile Nkosi’s graphic work to complement the ceramics for the 2009 exhibition.

Gabisile passed away tragically in 2008. Malcolm Christian from Caversham Centre for Artists and Writers in the Natal Midlands, where Gabisile worked and an old friend of David’s, suggested that the suite of works called ‘Healing’ by Gabisile be used as an inspiration for the ceramic artists. This suite was purchased by WHAG for the permanent collection so will remain in Kimberley after the exhibition. Photographs of the 6 works were circulated amongst the potters. The brief was that they should ‘use the portfolio as inspiration, a starting point for your exhibition pieces.’

In his letter of invitation to the ceramic artists, David further states ‘I would like you to read about Gabi’s intentions in producing these linocuts, and the theme of the works – the abolition of slavery. I would ask you to take note of the divisions to be seen in some of the works – the idea that the present is somewhere in the middle of the piece, while the past, our ‘ancestors’ are below, and our future – our aspirations, are fittingly above. And of course be inspired by her facility with the medium.’

The exhibition opens on the 30th of July at WHAG and will run until 18 August 2009.


David Walters and friends exhibition